Liquid toppings dispensing system

ABSTRACT

A mobile confectionary apparatus includes a vehicle with at least one upstanding side wall. An interior space may be surrounded by the upstanding side wall. An opening may extend through the side wall. A liquid toppings dispensing system is adjustably positionable adjacent to the side wall and includes a first plurality of liquid dispensers configured to dispense at least one liquid topping. The liquid toppings dispensing system is pivotable relative to the side wall between a first position and a second position. The liquid toppings dispensing system is located externally of the side wall in each of the first and second positions.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/809,971, filed Mar. 5, 2020, which is acontinuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/456,014,filed Jun. 28, 2019, now abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 16/124,646, filed Sep. 7, 2018, nowabandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/693,996, filed Sep. 1, 2017, now abandoned, which is a continuationof U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/870,439, filed Sep. 30, 2015, nowU.S. Pat. No. 9,751,447, issued Sep. 5, 2017, which is a continuation ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/779,650, filed Feb. 27, 2013, nowU.S. Pat. No. 9,321,387, issued Apr. 26, 2016, and is related to U.S.Pat. No. 8,915,407, issued Dec. 23, 2014, and entitled “MOBILECONFECTIONARY APPARATUS WITH PROTECTIBLE DISPENSING SYSTEM,” and is alsorelated to U.S. Pat. No. 8,157,136, issued Apr. 17, 2012, and entitled“MOBILE CONFECTIONARY APPARATUS WITH PROTECTIBLE DISPENSING SYSTEM,”each disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference hereinin its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a mobile apparatus forserving confections and, more particularly, to a mobile confectionaryapparatus for dispensing beverages and/or frozen confections.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mobile confectionaries for selling confections (e.g., snow cones, shavedice, ice cream, and beverages) have been around for years. Mobility maybe provided via truck, trailer, or mobile kiosk and may bring confectionsales to places that as a matter of general operation may not have anyvending available. These locations may include, for example, festivals,parks, and residential neighborhoods. The dispensing of liquids, likesdrinks and flavorings, has typically been done by a person within thetruck/trailer, or by the customer at a kiosk.

Structurally, a mobile confectionery will typically include a box-likeenclosure having an interior work space outfitted for the preparationand sale of the confections and at least one service window throughwhich the confections are transferred to the customer and thetransaction conducted. The work space is typically large enough for atleast one person and contains apparatuses for preparing the confectionsand may include, for example, ice shaving or crushing equipment, slushmaking devices, ice cream/custard dispensing apparatuses, or the like.

It has been found that in this industry, profitability and customersatisfaction are largely dependent upon providing quality products andfast service. Profitability may also be time sensitive. This may be thecase when crowds are present before or after a show or concert or duringan intermission when people flood a given area and then depart that areain a short amount of time. In this situation, the length of a line atany individual vendor may be the determining factor for people whoarrive after the initial wave of people. A long line at oneconfectionary may drive later-arriving customers to another vendor witha shorter line. Fast service may drive profitability in this instance.Keeping the line short is an invitation to later-arriving potentialcustomers.

Another factor in customer satisfaction, particularly for frozenconfections, such as shaved ice, snow cones, and the like, is thequantity of topping or flavoring applied to the confection. More is mostoften better. Yet applying more flavoring requires more time and cancause the wait time to increase to the detriment of potential customers.Because confectionaries are a favorite of children, another factor thatdrives up wait time, and thus drives away potential customers, iswaiting for a child to select their topping or flavoring.

Thus, what is sought is a mobile confectionary apparatus, whichincreases customer satisfaction and increases productivity, particularlyfor frozen confections, and which overcomes one or more of theshortcomings and problems set forth above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the foregoing and other shortcomings anddrawbacks of liquid toppings dispensing systems heretofore known for usein mobile confectionary apparatuses. While the invention will bedescribed in connection with certain embodiments, it will be understoodthat the invention is not limited to these embodiments. On the contrary,the invention includes all alternatives, modifications and equivalentsas may be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a mobileconfectionary apparatus comprises a vehicle that includes at least oneupstanding side wall. An interior space is surrounded by the at leastone upstanding side wall and is configured to receive at least oneperson. An opening extends through the at least one upstanding side walland through which an item may be passed from the interior space tooutside of the vehicle.

A liquid toppings dispensing system is attachable to the at least oneupstanding side wall and includes a first plurality of liquid dispensersconfigured to dispense at least one liquid topping onto the item. Theliquid toppings dispensing system is pivotable relative to the at leastone upstanding side wall between a first position and a second position,with the liquid toppings dispensing system being located externally ofthe at least one upstanding side wall in each of the first and secondpositions.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the at least oneupstanding side wall includes a pair of opposing side walls and a rearwall extending transversely between the pair of opposing side walls.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a longitudinalaxis of the liquid toppings dispensing system is disposed generallyparallel to one of the pair of opposing side walls in the firstposition.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a longitudinalaxis of the liquid toppings dispensing system is disposed generallyparallel to the rear wall in the second position.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the opening isprovided in one of the opposing side walls and the liquid toppingsdispensing system is oriented generally parallel to the one opposingside wall in the first position.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a mobileconfectionary apparatus comprises a vehicle including at least oneupstanding side wall and a liquid toppings dispensing system beingsupported by the at least one upstanding side wall. The liquid toppingsdispensing system includes a plurality of liquid dispensers configuredto dispense at least one liquid topping onto the item. The liquidtoppings dispensing system is pivotable relative to the at least oneupstanding side wall between a first position and a second position,with the liquid toppings dispensing system being located externally ofthe at least one upstanding side wall in each of the first and secondpositions.

The above and other objectives and advantages of the present inventionshall be made apparent from the accompanying drawings and thedescription thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and,together with a general description of the invention given above and thedetailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explainthe principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a mobile confectionary apparatus including aliquid toppings dispensing system shown pivoted to a first positionaccording to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the liquid toppingsdispensing system pivoted to a second position according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the liquid toppings dispensing systempivoted to the first position as illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3B is a top plan view of the liquid toppings dispensing systemshown in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the liquid toppings dispensing systemshown pivoted to the second position as illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4B is a top plan view of the liquid toppings dispensing systemshown in FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5A is a front elevational view of the liquid toppings dispensingsystem shown in FIG. 1 according to one embodiment;

FIG. 5B is a side elevational view of the liquid toppings dispensingsystem shown in FIG. 1 according to one embodiment;

FIG. 5C is a rear elevational view of the liquid toppings dispensingsystem shown in FIG. 1 according to one embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a disassembled perspective view of the liquid toppingsdispensing system shown in FIG. 1 according to one embodiment, showingfluid connection of the liquid toppings dispensing system with a mobilestructure; and

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a mobile confectionary apparatusaccording to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, and to FIGS. 1 and 2 in particular, inone embodiment, a mobile confectionary apparatus 10 provides a mobileplatform for making and serving frozen confections, such as, but notlimited to, shaved ice and/or snow cones to customers. A liquid topping,such as a flavored syrup, may then be applied to the frozen confectionby the customer. In this regard and according to embodiments of thepresent invention, the mobile confectionary apparatus 10 includes aliquid toppings dispensing system 12, described in detail below.Generally, the liquid toppings dispensing system 12 is configured todispense one or more liquid toppings, such as flavored syrups, onto thefrozen confections served to the customer. A customer having beenpreviously served with a frozen confection may selectively self-serveone or more of the liquid toppings onto the frozen confection as desiredfrom the liquid toppings dispensing system 12. The mobile confectionaryapparatus 10 as described herein may advantageously increase the numberof customers that may be served over any given period of time.Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may increase revenuesgenerated by the sales of frozen confections from the mobileconfectionary apparatus 10 while also positively influencing customersatisfaction by reducing the possibility of potentially long wait lines.

To these and other ends and with continued reference to FIG. 1, in oneembodiment, the mobile confectionary apparatus 10 may include a vehiclechassis 14. In the representative embodiment shown, the chassis 14 is atruck chassis and includes an engine and drive train (not shown) forrotating one or more wheels 16 in a conventional manner and forpropelling the vehicle chassis 14 in both the forward and reversedirections over roads and the like to various destinations. As shown,the vehicle chassis 14 supports a mobile structure 18 that includes anupstanding side wall 20. It will be appreciated that embodiments of thepresent invention are not limited to trucks. For example, the vehiclechassis 14 may include a trailer chassis (not shown) that is towable bya vehicle, such as a truck, as is known in the art. In this situation,the mobile structure 18 may be mounted onto the trailer chassis.

In one embodiment, as is described in more detail below, the liquidtoppings dispensing system 12 may be releasably or removably attached tothe upstanding side wall 20 and may be movable or pivotable to at leasttwo different positions, such as first and second positions, as is shownaccording to one embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively. Visually, inthe first position as shown in FIG. 1, the liquid toppings dispensingsystem 12 may provide an overall lengthening of the mobile confectionaryapparatus 10 relative to a second position as shown in FIG. 2. While theliquid toppings dispensing system 12 may be pivoted to many differentorientations, the system 12 may be operable by customers to self-serve aliquid topping when the system 12 is pivoted to the position shown inFIG. 1, by way of example. In the second position as shown in FIG. 2,the liquid toppings dispensing system 12 may not be operable, or may beoriented in this second position to change the location in which thecustomer accesses the system 12 for dispensing liquid toppings onto afrozen confection or simply as a transport position during movement ofthe mobile confectionary apparatus 10. It will be appreciated thatcertain geographic locations at which the apparatus 10 is positioned forbusiness may have a reduced space within which to operate, and thesecond position of the liquid toppings dispensing system 12 as shown inFIG. 2 may allow the mobile confectionary apparatus 10 to physically fitwithin the confines of a reduced area and still retain the improvedthroughput as set out above. Alternatively, the second position of theliquid toppings dispensing system 12 as shown in FIG. 2 may be atemporary storage position, which may be utilized during movement of themobile confectionary apparatus 10 or in other situations.

As shown in FIG. 1, the upstanding side wall 20 encloses an interiorspace 22 and separates the interior space 22 from the environmentoutside of the structure 18. The interior space 22 is configured to holdequipment 23, such as equipment for preparing shaved ice, snow cones,and/or other frozen confections. It will be appreciated that otherequipment, in addition or as an alternative to equipment 23, may belocated within the interior space 22 including, but not limited to, afreezer and/or a cooler. Interior space 22 is sufficiently large for oneor more people to operate the equipment 23 and to serve customers fromwithin the structure 18. It will be appreciated that the liquid toppingsdispensing system 12 is not within the interior space 22. Rather, in theembodiment shown, the liquid toppings dispensing system 12 may be onlyaccessible from outside of the mobile structure 18.

In the representative embodiment shown, the interior space 22 is boundedby the upstanding side wall 20, a floor 25, and a roof 27. Roof 27 isspaced sufficiently above the floor 25 to allow a person to stand withinthe interior space 22. In one embodiment, the upstanding side wall 20includes a side wall 24, a second side wall (not shown) opposite theside wall 24, a rear wall 26 extending transversely between the pair ofside walls that are joined at corners 28 (one corner shown), and a frontwall 29. As shown, the side wall 24 is generally parallel to the forwardand reverse directions in which the mobile confectionary apparatus 10moves. The rear wall 26 is generally perpendicular to the side wall 24.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, the wall 20 may include a serviceopening 30 through which a person in the interior space 22 can conductbusiness by passing frozen confections to customers and receiving moneyfrom customers outside of the structure 18. The service opening 30 islocated at a suitable elevation above the ground on which the mobileconfectionary apparatus 10 rests. A service window 32 may be operable bya person in the interior space 22 between an opened position (shown inFIG. 1) in which the person in the interior space 22 may maketransactions through the service opening 30 and a closed position (shownin FIG. 2) in which the service opening 30 is closed or obstructed bythe window 32.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the liquid toppingsdispensing system 12 may be movable or pivotable between at least twodifferent positions relative to the structure 18. That is, a person mayswing or pivot the liquid toppings dispensing system 12 about its pointof attachment to the structure 18 from at least one position to anotherposition. Once the liquid toppings dispensing system 12 is positioned ineither of the first or second positions, the customer, after having beenserved via the opening 30, may simply follow the side wall 24 to theliquid toppings dispensing system 12 in order to self-serve liquidtoppings from the system 12. Thus, the location and orientation of theliquid toppings dispensing system 12 in either of the first or secondpositions as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, by way of example, may enhance theflow of customers through the service process, that is first the flow ofcustomers to the opening 30 to receive a frozen confection or containerand then from the opening 30 to the liquid toppings dispensing system 12to dispense the liquid toppings onto the frozen confection or into thecontainer.

In the first position, as is shown in FIGS. 1, 3A, and 3B, the liquidtoppings dispensing system 12 may extend outwardly from the rear wall 26at a suitable height so as to be manually operable by a customer locatedoutside of the mobile confectionary apparatus 10 for dispensing a liquidtopping, such as flavored syrup, on a confection. That is, alongitudinal axis 36 (FIG. 3B) or a major length dimension of the liquidtoppings dispensing system 12 may extend in a generally transversedirection relative to the rear wall 26. In the exemplary embodiment, thelongitudinal axis 36 of the liquid toppings dispensing system 12 isoriented generally perpendicular to the rear wall 26. Furthermore, whenthe liquid toppings dispensing system 12 is in the first position asshown in FIG. 1, the longitudinal axis 36 of the liquid toppingsdispensing system 12 extends in a direction that is generally parallelto the side wall 24. As described above, the liquid toppings dispensingsystem 12 may be pivoted from the first position shown in FIG. 3A to thesecond position shown in FIG. 4A when there is insufficient room for thesystem 12 to extend transversely (e.g., perpendicularly) from the rearwall 26 or prior to moving the mobile confectionary apparatus 10. In thesecond position, the longitudinal axis 36 of the liquid toppingsdispensing system 12 may be oriented generally parallel to the rear wall26.

Further with regard to positioning of the liquid toppings dispensingsystem 12, embodiments of the present invention are not limited to thesystem 12 being oriented at an approximately perpendicular anglerelative to the rear wall 26 in the first position, and generallyparallel with the rear wall 26 in the second position. Otherorientations than those shown are possible in which a customer mayself-serve the liquid toppings. For example, the longitudinal axis 36 ofliquid toppings dispensing system 12 may extend at an angle that is notperpendicular to the rear wall 26. In such an orientation, the liquidtoppings dispensing system 12 may still provide an overall relativevisual lengthening of the structure 18 and provide a natural flow to theself-serve liquid dispensing process from the opening 30 to the system12.

In addition to the angular orientation of the liquid toppings dispensingsystem 12, the location on the wall 20 to which the system 12 isattached may vary. In the embodiment shown, and with reference to FIG.3B, the liquid toppings dispensing system 12 may be secured proximate tothe corner 28 as shown. In this sense, the liquid toppings dispensingsystem 12 may be visible to customers standing at or near the opening30. Generally, the liquid toppings dispensing system 12 may be securedto the structure 18 nearer to the side wall 24 than to the centerline ofthe structure 18. As described above, when the liquid toppingsdispensing system 12 is positioned nearer to the corner 28, customersmay see and obtain easy access to the liquid toppings. By way ofexample, the liquid toppings dispensing system 12 may be secured to therear wall 26 such that a front surface of the system 12 is substantiallyflush with the side wall 24. It will be appreciated that the liquidtoppings dispensing system 12 may project beyond a plane defined by theside wall 24 and so the position of the system 12 is not specificallylimited to the orientations shown.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the liquid toppingsdispensing system 12 is movable or pivotable to at least one otherposition (e.g., the second position, as shown in FIGS. 2, 4A, and 4B).Unlike the first position of the liquid toppings dispensing system 12shown in FIG. 1, the second position shown in FIG. 2 may orient thelongitudinal axis 36 of the liquid toppings dispensing system 12generally parallel to the rear wall 26 (shown best in FIG. 4B). When theliquid toppings dispensing system 12 is in the second position shown inFIG. 2, the system 12 may still be usable in that customers who havebeen served via the window 32 may proceed to the rear wall 26 of themobile confectionary apparatus 10 to self-serve the liquid topping fromthe system 12. In one embodiment of the present invention, the liquidtoppings dispensing system 12 may not be operable in the second positionshown in FIG. 4A.

While the figures generally illustrate the liquid toppings dispensingsystem 12 as being removably attached to and pivotable relative to therear wall 26 (see, for example, FIG. 6), it will be appreciated thatembodiments of the present invention are not limited to the liquidtoppings dispensing system 12 being secured to the rear wall 26. In thisregard, the liquid toppings dispensing system 12 may be removablyattached to, and pivotable with respect to, the side wall 24.

With reference now to FIGS. 4A and 5A, in one embodiment, the liquidtoppings dispensing system 12 may include a plurality of liquiddispensers 40 that are configured to selectively dispense the liquidtoppings onto a frozen confection. In one embodiment, the liquiddispensers 40 are arranged along an axis 41 (FIG. 4A) that is generallyparallel to the longitudinal axis 36 of the liquid toppings dispensingsystem 12. While liquid toppings, such as flavored syrups, are describedherein, it will be appreciated that the liquid dispensers 40 may beconfigured to dispense a beverage into a container, such as a cup or thelike. The plurality of liquid dispensers 40 may be arranged along andsecured to a support panel 42 that includes a backsplash 43. The supportpanel 42 and backsplash 43 may be enclosed within a housing 44. A catchbasin 45 may be disposed beneath the liquid dispensers 40 and configuredto drain spilled liquid topping to a waste container (not shown). Itwill be appreciated that the number of liquid dispensers 40 may dictatethe overall dimensions and thus the length of the longitudinal axis 36of the liquid toppings dispensing system 12. The liquid dispensers 40may be accessed and operated by customers via an opening 46 in thehousing 44.

With reference to FIGS. 3A, 5A, 5B, and 6, in one embodiment, thehousing 44 may further include one or more utility access openings 48 onone side of the housing 44 through which electrical and fluidconnections may be made to equipment within the structure 18. In oneembodiment, the structure 18 includes a hookup panel 60 located on therear wall 26 that includes a plurality of liquid dispensing ports 62 andan electrical outlet 63. The panel 60 may align with one of the utilityaccess openings 48 in the housing 44 when the liquid toppings dispensingsystem 12 is positioned as shown in FIG. 3A. The number of liquiddispensing ports 62 may correspond to the number of liquid dispensers40. It will be appreciated that a plurality of fluid delivery conduitsor tubes 64 may be releasably contacted to the individual liquiddispensing ports 62 via conventional quick connect/disconnectconnectors, and extend between the liquid dispensing ports 62 and thecorresponding liquid dispensers 40. The liquid dispensing ports 62 maybe fluidly coupled to one or more reservoirs 66 (shown in FIG. 1) of theliquid toppings. As shown in FIG. 1, the reservoirs 66 may be positionedwithin the structure 18. The tubes 64 may direct liquid toppings fromthe reservoirs 66 to the corresponding liquid dispensers 40, as needed,during operation of the mobile confectionary apparatus 10. It will beappreciated that embodiments of the present invention are not limited tothe reservoirs 66 being positioned within the structure 18, as it may bebeneficial to have a reservoir provided within the housing 44. Inaddition, an electrical cable 65 may be releasably coupled in aconventional manner to the electrical outlet 63 for providing electricalpower to devices on or in the housing 44. By way of example, theelectrical cable 65 may be configured to power a plurality of displaylights 67 (e.g., 12V LED lights) within the housing 44. As shown in FIG.5A, the display lights 67 are arranged to illuminate at least the liquiddispensers 40 during operation.

The structure 18 may further include a waste line port 68 that alignswith another one of the utility access openings 48 and the housing 44,as shown in FIG. 3A. The waste line port 68 may be configured totransport any liquid topping drippings captured by the catch basin 45from within the housing 44 back to the structure 18 via tube 64 (FIG.6). Furthermore, the tubes 64 may be configured to be disconnected fromthe port 62 and/or the liquid dispensers 40, the port 68 and/or thecatch basin 45, and the electrical cable 65 may be configured to bedisconnected from the electrical outlet 63, in situations in which thehousing 44 is detached from the structure 18 as described in greaterdetail below.

Referring now to FIG. 5C, in one embodiment, the housing 44 furtherincludes a utility access opening 50 in the side of the housing 44opposite the opening 46. A door 52 may close off the opening 50. And,when the liquid dispensers 40 or other equipment enclosed by the housing44 require service, the door 52 may be removed to allow access to withinthe housing 44.

With reference to FIGS. 3A and 6, in one embodiment, one or more hinges56 may be utilized to pivotably attach the housing 44 to the wall 20 ofthe structure 18. In this regard, the hinges 56 provide an axis ofrotation about which the liquid toppings dispensing system 12 may bepivoted relative to the structure 18 (indicated by arrow 58 in FIG. 3A).It will be appreciated that the hinges 56 may allow the liquid toppingsdispensing system 12 to be oriented in any one of a number oforientations relative to the rear wall 26 and the side wall 24 as setout above. However, the hinges 56 may include a stop or anothermechanism by which the housing 44 is held in a fixed position whilecustomers operate the liquid dispensers 40. In one embodiment, theliquid toppings dispensing system 12 is secured in place in the firstposition as shown in FIG. 1 using a fastening system, not shown.

Further in this regard, as shown in FIG. 6, in one embodiment, theindividual leaves of the hinges 56 may be separable allowing the housing44 to be easily disconnected from the structure 18. By way of exampleand without limitation, the hinges 56 may be slip-joint or take-aparttype hinges by which the corresponding leaves may be separately securedto the structure 18 and to the housing 44 when the hinge 56 isdisassembled. In the embodiment shown, the housing 44 may furtherinclude a handle 70 to allow a person to lift the housing 44 andseparate the individual leaves of hinges 56. It will be appreciated thatthe housing 44, once separated from the structure 18, may be storedwithin the structure 18 should that be necessary prior to moving themobile confectionary apparatus 10 or for another reason.

Alternatively, when the liquid toppings dispensing system 12 is orientedin the position shown in FIG. 4A, it may be releasably secured to therear wall 26 by the hinges 56 provided on one end thereof and by a latchmechanism 72 provided at the other end thereof.

While hinges 56 are shown according to one embodiment, those of ordinaryskill in the art will readily appreciate that other hinge structures, orother known structures for providing a pivotable or rotatable connectionbetween two components, are possible as well without departing from thespirit and scope of the present invention.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the mobile confectionaryapparatus 10 may include a second liquid toppings dispensing system 74disposed in or on the side wall 24. Similar to the liquid toppingsdispensing system 12, the liquid toppings dispensing system 74 may beconfigurable to selectively dispense a liquid topping onto a frozenconfection or to fill a container with a beverage. The second liquidtoppings dispensing system 74 may include a second plurality of liquiddispensers 76 that are arranged along an axis 73 (FIG. 2). As with theliquid dispensers 40, a customer may self-serve a liquid topping withthe dispensers 76, because each dispenser 76 may be connected by aliquid line (not shown) to the reservoir 66.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3B, the longitudinal axis 36of the liquid toppings dispensing system 12 may be arranged generallyparallel with the side wall 24. In this arrangement, the plurality ofliquid dispensers 76 may also be arranged generally parallel with theside wall 24 and with the longitudinal axis 36 of the liquid toppingsdispensing system 12. This generally parallel arrangement may facilitatea uniform, quick flow of customers past the opening 30 and allow eachcustomer more time within which to select and dispense a liquid toppingfrom one or more of the liquid dispensers 40 and/or liquid dispensers 76on to a frozen confection or dispense a beverage into a container.

With reference to FIG. 7, one or both of the liquid toppings dispensingsystems 12, 74 may include a cover member 80, 82, respectively.Individually, cover members 80, 82 cover and protect the correspondingliquid dispensers 40, 76 during nonuse of the mobile confectionaryapparatus 10. By way of example, the cover members 80, 82 may preventnatural elements, such as dirt, rain, road spray, and the like fromdepositing on the liquid dispensers 40, 76. The cover members 80, 82 maysubstantially prevent the liquid dispensers 40, 76 from being vandalizedor intentionally misused. While the cover member 80 is generally usablein all positions of the liquid toppings dispensing system 12, includingthe position shown in FIG. 1, the cover member 80 may be used more oftenwhen the system 12 is in the position shown in FIG. 2. According to oneembodiment, the plurality of liquid dispensers 40 are covered by covermembers 80 in a storage position.

While the present invention has been illustrated by a description ofvarious embodiments and while those embodiments have been described inconsiderable detail, it is not the intention of applicants to restrictor in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such details.Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to thoseskilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is thereforenot limited to the specific details and illustrative examples shown anddescribed. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of applicants' invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mobile confectionary apparatus, comprising: avehicle including at least one upstanding side wall; an interior spacesurrounded by the at least one upstanding side wall and configured toreceive at least one person; and a liquid toppings dispensing systemincluding a housing being positioned adjacent to the at least oneupstanding side wall and including a plurality of liquid dispensersconfigured to dispense at least one liquid topping onto the item, eachof the plurality of liquid dispensers being in fluid communication withat least one reservoir holding the at least one liquid topping, with theliquid toppings dispensing system being located externally of the atleast one upstanding side wall and spaced laterally therefrom so as tobe juxtaposed with the at least one upstanding side wall.
 2. The mobileconfectionary apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes anopening extending through the at least one upstanding side wall andthrough which an item may be passed from the interior space to outsideof the vehicle.
 3. The mobile confectionary apparatus of claim 1,wherein the plurality of liquid dispensers is arranged along an axisthat is generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the liquid toppingsdispensing system.
 4. The mobile confectionary apparatus of claim 1,further comprising at least one tube extending from the at least onereservoir and being coupled to at least one of the plurality of liquiddispensers.
 5. The mobile confectionary apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe vehicle is a truck.
 6. The mobile confectionary apparatus of claim1, wherein the vehicle is a trailer.
 7. The mobile confectionaryapparatus of claim 1, further comprises a catch basin supported by thehousing and located beneath the plurality of liquid dispensers.
 8. Themobile confectionary apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid toppingsdispensing system is mounted so as to be pivotable relative to the atleast one upstanding side wall.
 9. The mobile confectionary apparatus ofclaim 8, wherein the liquid toppings dispensing system is pivotablerelative to the at least one upstanding side wall between a firstposition and a second position such that, in the first position, theliquid toppings dispensing system is displaced away from the at leastone upstanding side wall and, in the second position, an axis of theplurality of liquid dispensers is located generally parallel to the atleast one upstanding side wall.
 10. The mobile confectionary apparatusof claim 9, further comprising at least one port in the at least oneupstanding side wall through which the at least one tube extends tocouple the at least one reservoir to the at least one of the pluralityof liquid dispensers.
 11. The mobile confectionary apparatus of claim 9,further comprising at least one hinge supported by the at least oneupstanding side wall and defining an axis about which the liquidtoppings dispensing system is pivotable between the first position andthe second position.
 12. A mobile confectionary apparatus, comprising: avehicle including at least one upstanding side wall; an interior spacesurrounded by the at least one upstanding side wall and configured toreceive at least one person; and a liquid toppings dispensing systemincluding a housing being positioned adjacent to the at least oneupstanding side wall and including a plurality of liquid dispensersconfigured to dispense at least one liquid topping onto the item, eachof the plurality of liquid dispensers being in fluid communication withat least one reservoir holding the at least one liquid topping, with theliquid toppings dispensing system being located externally of the atleast one upstanding side wall and spaced laterally therefrom so as tobe positioned parallel with and overlay the at least one upstanding sidewall.
 13. The mobile confectionary apparatus of claim 12, wherein thevehicle includes an opening extending through the at least oneupstanding side wall and through which an item may be passed from theinterior space to outside of the vehicle.
 14. The mobile confectionaryapparatus of claim 12, wherein the plurality of liquid dispensers isarranged along an axis that is generally parallel to a longitudinal axisof the liquid toppings dispensing system.
 15. The mobile confectionaryapparatus of claim 12, further comprising at least one tube extendingfrom the at least one reservoir and being coupled to at least one of theplurality of liquid dispensers.
 16. The mobile confectionary apparatusof claim 12, wherein the vehicle is a truck.
 17. The mobileconfectionary apparatus of claim 12, wherein the vehicle is a trailer.18. The mobile confectionary apparatus of claim 12, further comprises acatch basin supported by the housing and located beneath the pluralityof liquid dispensers.
 19. The mobile confectionary apparatus of claim12, wherein the liquid toppings dispensing system is mounted so as to bepivotable relative to the at least one upstanding side wall.
 20. Themobile confectionary apparatus of claim 19, wherein the liquid toppingsdispensing system is pivotable relative to the at least one upstandingside wall between a first position and a second position such that, inthe first position, the liquid toppings dispensing system is displacedaway from the at least one upstanding side wall and, in the secondposition, an axis of the plurality of liquid dispensers is locatedgenerally parallel to the at least one upstanding side wall.
 21. Themobile confectionary apparatus of claim 20, further comprising at leastone port in the at least on upstanding side wall through which the atleast one tube extends to couple the at least one reservoir to the atleast one of the plurality of liquid dispensers.
 22. The mobileconfectionary apparatus of claim 20, further comprising at least onehinge supported by the at least one upstanding side wall and defining anaxis about which the liquid toppings dispensing system is pivotablebetween the first position and the second position.